New York, NY – A woman accusing former WWE CEO Vince McMahon of sexual misconduct has agreed to halt her lawsuit after a request from the Justice Department, according to her attorney. Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, claimed in a lawsuit that McMahon had coerced her into a sexual relationship to maintain her job and shared explicit content of her with others in the company. The case, filed in January, also alleged psychological abuse and physical violence inflicted by McMahon.
Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, stated that Grant had agreed to pause the case against McMahon, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis at the request of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The decision came amid a non-public investigation into the matter. Grant’s lawsuit detailed graphic accounts of alleged encounters and included explicit text messages.
McMahon, who stepped down as CEO in 2022, faced further scrutiny after revelations of significant payouts related to sexual misconduct allegations. Grant had signed a nondisclosure agreement with McMahon in 2022, with the agreement for a $3 million payment. However, Grant seeks to annul the NDA and receive unspecified financial damages, claiming that McMahon failed to fulfill the payment agreement.
In response to the allegations, McMahon denounced Grant’s lawsuit as deceptive and filled with falsehoods. He expressed his intent to vigorously defend himself and clear his name. WWE initiated an internal investigation following an anonymous tip in 2022 about the inappropriate relationship.
The lawsuit against McMahon sheds light on the pervasive issue of sexual misconduct in the workplace and the challenges faced by survivors in seeking justice. Grant’s decision to pause the case highlights the complex legal processes involved in such sensitive matters. The outcome of the investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office will likely have significant implications for the case moving forward.